Rahul to SC, prefer to face trial in RSS defamation case

Rahul Gandhi today preferred to face trial as an accused in a defamation case for his remark against the RSS on the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, telling the Supreme Court he stood by every word of his statement made during a poll rally in 2014.

The Congress Vice President expressed his readiness to face trial after the apex court refused to interfere with criminal proceedings pending against him before a trial court in Maharashtra. Rahul then withdrew the appeal filed by him against the Bombay High Court judgement refusing to quash the defamation case and summons issued to him by the trial court.

The apex court also declined Rahul’s plea that he be exempted from personal appearance before the Bhiwandi court which has taken cognizance of the complaint of a RSS functionary by summoning him as an accused for his statement on the organisation for the killing of the Father of Nation.

The brief hearing before a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman saw the Gandhi scion deviating from his earlier stand that he never blamed RSS as an institution for the killing by stating that he stood by every word of his statement made during an election rally in 2014 that had led to the filing of complaint by Sangh functionary Rajesh Mahadev Kunte.

“I stand by each and every word. I will never take my words back. I stood by it yesterday, I stand by it today and I will stand by it in future as well. I am ready to go to the trial,” senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Rahul, submitted, and reiterated “what Gopal Godse, brother of Nathuram Godse has said about the RSS.